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Ohio > Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon
& Half Marathon
Columbus, OH
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Date
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Event
Details
One of the nation's premiere marathon and half-marathon road race
events -- according to both race organizers and many past participants
-- is Ohio's Columbus Marathon & Half Marathon, whose 29th
annual running this fall expects to attract a total field of 11,500
runners, with 5,000 in the full marathon and 6,500 in the half, for a
race that takes runners on a mostly flat and fast tour (with a few
hills)
of the city's downtown districts and urban parkland areas.
Both events share the same starting time (7:30 AM) and starting line,
at the corner of Broad and High Streets near the Columbus City Center
and Bicentennial Park, just a few blocks away from the bend in the
Scioto River, which flows through the city. From there, the field
follows an eastward trek along East Broad Street, where they encounter
the only real hills to speak of during the race, between miles 1 and 4.
These hills only rise just over 50 feet in elevation and are marked by
gradual inclines, however, so they're nothing to get too exercised
about.
Along the way, runners and walkers -- this year's race is open to both,
and both groups will share the same starting time -- pass the Columbus
Museum of Art as well as the tree-lined greenspace of Franklin Park,
perhaps best known for its conservatory, which was built in 1895 and is
now home to more than 400 plant species from around the world. Runners
continue along Broad and make turns at Parkview, Maryland and North
Columbus Avenues, making the turn on Caroline for the middle third of
the half-marathon, which takes runners southward along Drexel Avenue,
past the
city's Jeffrey, Wolfe and Academy Parks.
Once they pass by Academy Park on the stretch of the race along Bryden
Road (after hitting the half-way point on East Main Street), runners
then follow a long straightway along Bryden toward the area of Columbus
known as German Village. This 233-acre historic neighborhood area,
characterized by its signature brick architecture for its buildings,
streets and walkways, dates back to the 1800s, when it was originally
settled by German immigrants to the city.
After passing through the German Village area, with turns onto Reinhard
Avenue, Jaeger Street and Deshler Avenue, the course then hits the home
stretch, taking runners northward along South High Street for the last
two miles toward the finish line, which lies near the Nationwide Arena
on Nationwide Boulevard. The last few miles are a nice treat for
runners finishing up -- they're almost entirely flat the whole way in.
Race
Weather & Climate
Conditions tend to be mild to cool in the Columbus metro area in the
early fall, with drier than average weather in October than the few
preceding months. In October, average monthly temperatures range
between 67°F and 43°F, while rainfall amounts average
around 2.53 inches for the month.
Fees
$50 for the 13.1-mile half marathon
$65 for the full, 26.2-mile marathon
$8 for the Barnum & Bailey "Red Nose Run"
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2008 running of the Nationwide Better
Health Columbus Marathon or Half Marathon, register online at Active.com.
Website
www.columbusmarathon.com
Course Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in Columbus's annual Nationwide Marathon or Half Marathon?
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Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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